5 Reasons Why You Should Be Saving Seeds This Year (Plus a Bonus Tip!)

If you're a beginner gardener, you may have heard about seed saving but haven’t given it much thought. It might sound like something only experienced gardeners do, but saving seeds is surprisingly easy and offers incredible benefits, especially for those new to gardening. Here are five reasons to start saving seeds this year, along with a bonus tip to involve your little ones!

1. Save Money on Gardening

Seed packets can add up, especially when you're experimenting with new plants each season. Saving seeds from the plants you’ve already grown means you don’t need to buy as many next year. Over time, this small habit can lead to big savings, allowing you to focus your budget on other gardening essentials like tools, compost, or that dreamy raised garden bed you've been eyeing.

2. Grow Plants Better Suited to Your Garden

When you save seeds from plants that have thrived in your garden, you're essentially selecting for success. Over time, those seeds adapt to your unique growing conditions, including your climate, soil type, and even local pests. This means healthier, hardier plants year after year—perfect for building your gardening confidence!

3. Preserve Unique or Heirloom Varieties

Seed saving is one of the best ways to protect heirloom plants and unique varieties that might not be available at your local garden centre. By saving seeds, you’re playing a small but important role in preserving biodiversity and keeping these special plants alive for future generations. Plus, growing something rare can be incredibly satisfying!

4. Achieve Greater Self-Sufficiency

There’s something empowering about not relying entirely on store-bought seeds. Saving your own seeds puts you in control of your garden’s future and reduces dependence on commercial suppliers. If you’ve ever struggled to find a specific seed variety—or faced shortages during peak gardening seasons—you’ll appreciate the security of having your own stash.

5. Build Community Through Sharing

Seed saving opens the door to sharing and connecting with other gardeners. Whether it’s swapping seeds at a local gardening group or gifting a friend seeds from your favorite tomato plant, sharing seeds helps build a sense of community. It’s a fantastic way to diversify your garden and learn from others while sharing your gardening journey.

Bonus Tip: Get the Kids Involved!

Seed saving is an excellent activity for children. They’ll love helping you collect and sort seeds, and it’s a hands-on way to teach them about the plant life cycle. Try saving seeds from plants with larger, easier-to-handle seeds, like sunflowers or pumpkins, to make the process more fun and accessible. Who knows? It might inspire the next generation of gardeners!

Ready to Start Saving Seeds?

Seed saving doesn’t have to be complicated. Begin with plants that are easy to harvest seeds from, like tomatoes, beans, or marigolds. Not only will you reap the benefits mentioned above, but you’ll also find yourself more connected to your garden—and that’s a reward in itself.

So, what are you waiting for? Start saving seeds today and set your garden up for success next year. And don’t forget to share your seed-saving adventures in the comments below—I’d love to hear about them!